Improvement in apparatus for detaching horses



H. LATSHAW."

Apparatus for Detaching Horses. No. 139,068. PtentedMay 20.1873.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEZEKIAH LATSHAW, OF MOKNIGHTSTOWN, PENN SYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR DETACHING HORSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,068, dated May 20, 1873; application filed March 14, 1873.

To all whom 2t may concern:

Be it known that I, HEZEKIAH LATSHAW, of McKnightstown, in the county of Adams and in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Detaching Horses from Vehicles; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawin g and to the letters of reference marked thereon making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the peculiar arrangement and construction ofthe devices hereinafter described, for making a detachable trace attachment for shafts of vehicles.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a pair of shafts and whiflietree with my apparatus attached. Fig. 2 represents aperspective view, showing one-half a whiffletree and the detaching devices thereon. Fig. 3 represents a bottom view of a part of one of the shafts, with the devices which secure the breechingstrap.

In the annexed drawing, A represents the shafts of a vehicle, which are made in any of the usual ways. B represents the cross-bar at the rear of the shafts, and B the whiffletree, which is bolted to the cross-bar in the usual manner. Secured to the back side ofthe whiffletree are two metallic boxes, to a, which contain the slides c e. These slides c c are made of metal, and have their outer ends bent out at right angles to the whiffletree. A pin from the box a passes through a slot in each slide, so as to allow of their moving only a certain distance. The bent ends of the slides are provided with slots, as seen at e e. U 0 represent two levers, which are pivoted to the ends of the whiffletree, as shown. A suitable cockeye is formed on the outer end of each of these levers, while their inner ends pass into the slots in the bent ends of slides e 0. Two springs-one a rubber spring, z, and the other a metallic spring, F-press against the levers O, to throw their inner ends from the whiffletree when released from the slides e e, to allow the traces to slip from the cockeyes. One or both of these springs may be used, as preferred. Straps connect to the inner ends of the slides e e, and, passing under staples near the center of the whiffletree, unite and pass under the dash-board of the vehicle, so as to be operated by the driver in case of necessity. The shafts are provided with hooks to hold the breeching-rings, and these rings are kept in the hooks either by means of rubber or metal springs.

It will be seen that, after the strap is drawn to the rear, both slides move inward, and that the end of each lever is released from the slot in each slide, so that the springs F i will throw outward the levers and allow the traces to be drawn from the cockeyes on the ends of the levers. lVith my invention, as described, the driver, after drawing upon the strap, has virtually freed the horse from the shafts. It is not necessary for him to hold onto the strap until the horse walks out of the shafts, but he can get out of the vehicle at once, as I use no device or devices for throwing the levers and other devices back into position, as they were when the horse is within the shafts and hitched.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the levers O O, pivoted to the ends of the whiffletree, and having cockeyes on their outer ends, the boxes at a, and the angular and slotted slidesc c e c, all construeted as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of February, 1873.

' HEZEKIAH LATSHAW. Witnesses:

A. J. Govna, JOHN S. SEIDE. 

